Soil sampler



May 4, 1943. 'r. R; AMES son. SAMPLER Filed Nov; 29, 1949 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 4 WW. 9 i a n D W 1m 2 p y 3- l T. a. DAMES 2,318,062

SOIL SAMPLER Filed Nov. 29. 1940 2 Shets-SheetZ uqzzorne s.

Patented Mayl 4. 19 43 UNITE STATE son. Samaria r Trent R. Dames, .Pasafiena, Calm, assfgnor to Dames & Moore, Los Angeles, Calif., a copartnership composed oi Trent liam W. Moore,

JR. Dames andWil- Application November 29, 1940,,Seriat No. 367,741

k 3Claims. (01.255-L4) accomplishments and-- features of advantage. all.

This invention relates generally to soil samplers for taking undisturbed samples of soil from bores in the earth, and particularly to soil sampler devices of the type which are driven or forced into the soil without rotation.

The problem in soil sampling is to secure an.

undisturbed sample-that is, a sample whichis not remolded, fractured, crumpledmr compressed;

and which can therefore be subsequently analyzed in substantially its natural or pristine state. A common type of sampler comprises a barrel having a bit at its lower end adapted to cut a core, which is received inside the barrel, and provided with sample catching devices, sometimes inthe form of spring fingers, which engage the core and prevent it from sliding back out when the barrel is. elevated. As previously designed, however, these sample catchingdevices have marred or disturbed the core as the latter is forced upwardly into the barrel, spoiling the core forthepurpose of the tests to which it is later to be subjected. A further diiilculty in suchsampling devices as invariably heretofore madeis the provision of a non-uniform bore for reception of the core, 1. e., a bore which has either enlarging oflsets, ,clearances, or projections, any one of which hinders or prohibits the taking of an undisturbed core. Enlarging offsets or clearances 1 Fig. 3 is a plan view of of the barrel Fi '1 is a detail of a allow extrustion of the core, particularly with wet or plastic soils, while any projecting elements cut into, mar or cause remolding of the soil.

The primary object ofthe present invention is therefore to provide a soil sampler capable of taking sample cores with much less disturbance to the core than has heretofore been possible.

The sampler of the present invention is characterized by the provision of a tubular body hav-= ing a bit at its lower end, and having a continuous uniform diameter bore from the mouth of the .bit

upwardly 1M0 a tubular or ring like core retaining means contained within the body. The sample catcher elements are located in fiushpositions in comparatively closely fitting recesses formed or sunk in the walls'defini'ng the uniform bore, where they are incapable of disturbing the core while the core' is being forced .upwardly past them. I When the sampler isthen subsequently elevated, the

soil works'in back of these sample catcher elemen'ts, forcing them outwardly into engagement with the core and so preventing its"escape.' The provision of'thecontinuous uniform bore, to-

gether with the flush mounted sample catcher.

preservation of elements, enables the cutting and cores with negligible disturbance.

.The present invention has various additional '55 of barrel l2.

Fig. 1, with'the sample catcher element swung to sample retaining position; the sample catcher ring shown in Figsiliand la;

. Fig. .4 is a side elevation'of the ring of Fig. 3; .Fig. 5 is an elevation;- partly in section, ofa modified sample catcher r ng; showing one of the valve plates in position; \T s A mn Fig. 6' is a section take'n on broken line 6-8 of Fig. 5; all of. the valve-plates being shown in position; and

the ring of Figs. 5 and 6..

In the drawings, numeral It designates generally a tubular body embodying a tubular head 1!, a longitudinally split barrel'l2 screwed into the lower end of head i l,- and a steel bit, the

ower end of the split barre i2 being screwed into the u per end of the bit, and the bit ,having a annularcutting edge driventype,-that is, it

bore it defined by a sharp, lea. The bit i3 is of a is adapted to be driven or forced, into the soil raflier than rotated. Above bore 14 bit I3 is formed with an enlarged-counterbore' l5, providing anrannular upwardly facing seat l1. Counterbore I 5 meets with the internally threaded boat .into which is screwed the pin l 9 on the lower-end A sample catcher ring 21 isremovably' received within counterbo're 15 of bit 13, seating" on shoulder I1, and being of a height equal to the length of 'counterbor l5. The exteribi of the ring 2| and the coun'terbore l5 are preferably.

- formed with slight complementary tapers, which facilitate removal of the ring 2l'from the device for. cleaning out purposes following use, The internal diameter of ring 2| is equal to the-diam;

eter of bore 14 at the point of juncture of. bore It with the bore of the ring. The internal diameterof longitudinally split barrel -IZ is sufliciently greater than that of ring 2| to permit reception oftubular or generally cylindrical cor retaining means 22,the latter defining a cylindrical bore having a diameter equal to the internalzdiameter valve p ate' as used witliof ring .2l. Preferably, andas here shown, the

cylindrical core retaining means is segmented into a-plurality'or stack of individual core retainer rings 23, each of which has an internal diameter equal to that of ring 2|. Such a p1u-- rality of rings permits the core to be severed at a 5 are supported by the upper end of ring 2| inside pin l9. Thus there is provided an uninterrupted uniform diameter bore-from themouth of the bit up-throughring 2iand into retainer rings 23, bore 14 and the internal diameters of ring-2i and of rings .28 all being of the same size. In practiee, it is found that no detriment results from a slight constriction of the bore l4 by a few thousandths of. an inch at its inouth; insuch case, the walls of the bore above still fit the core 'with'comparative closeness, and prevent extra-- sion or deformation of the core. And when I refer to the core receiving bore of the sampler as being of substantially uniform diameter throughout, a slight constriction at the mouth of the bit, or a slight divergence of the bore l4 from the mouth of the bit to the point of juncture with the bore of ring 2|, of the order indicated, is therefore not excluded. A greater constriction or divergence, however such as will" permit any substantial extrusion or deformation of a wet,- plastic, orcrumbly core. cannot be per- 5 mitte'd, it being requisite'in 'all'cases that the sides 'of the bore afford complete lateral support forthe core as cut by the bit. v I 1 Sample catcher rin'g 2| is. recessed to receive 7 a set of sample catcher elements which are nor mally in positions fiush with the described uniform bore extending upwardly from the bit into the sample retainer. rings, these elements thus being in such positions that they will not damage the core d g. its upward passage into the sampler; In e form ofligs. 1, 3 and 4, these sample catcher elements are in the form of armatejlapvalve plates or leaves 30, mounted with comparatively close marginal fit in complemen- 'tary recesses or notches ll formed in ring 2|, the

valve plates or leaves having inner surfaces 32 formingcontinuations of, or being flush with, the cylindrical inner surface of ring 2|, and being supported in such positions by the abutting surface 'aiforded'by the counterbore 15. As shown, the valve plates may be described as having a keystone shape, with the narrower ends at the bottom. The narrowery-lower ends of these keystone-aha plates II are" pivotally mounted on horizon lpivot pins 34 set into ring2l, as

' clearly illustrated. Thus the plates III are "adapted to swing-from the upper flush positions shown in Fig. 1 (occupied during cutting of the I core) to the downwardly folded, sample-catching position indicated in Pig. 2. Preferably, the upperendsofplatesil arebeveled. asat ,soadto provide sharp arcuate' edges 31 adapted topenetrate and catch'the core when the deviee is elevated and the core tends to slide-out of the-sampier. The sampler as here illustrated is embodiedin a form for taking-samples underwater as well [as in dry or seml dry conditions, and is therefore provided with valve means at the top to pass anywater which may enter thebore of, 75.

as s,

8 the-device ahead of the sample. A tubular valve cage 4! is positioned within head ll, its lower end being supported-by the upper end of the upper connecting pin 4| of barrel i2, this pin being shown as screwed into box 42 at'the lower end of head II. It may here be.mentioned that the sampl retainer rings 23 are so dimensioned that the upper ring also engages the lower end of valve cage 40, the latter thus serving to con- I fine rings 23 against longitudinal displacement as the corevis moved within them. Tubular valve cage 40 is shown as having an ofiset near its upper end, providing an upwardly facing annular shoulder 43 adaptedto seat against downwardly facing annular shoulder 44 formed inside head ll". Preferably, the exterior of the tubular valve cagev 40 and the interior of the tubular head H within which the valve cage is received are formed with slight complementary tapers, which facilitate separation of the members in disassembly, especially when mud or sand has worked in between them during use.

A feature of the invention is the preferred use of two ball valves inseries in valve ca e 40, 4 it' being found in. practice that a single valve frequently becomes clogged with mud and does not permit proper functioning of the apparatus. As here embodied, tubular cage 40 has a partition 45 near its upper end, provided with a central aperture 46 and with a seat 41 for a valve ball 48. Preferably; a spring, isprovided to assure properseatingoff'valve ball 48, being here shown as confined between the valve ball and a centrally perforated disk'50 screwed into the top end of cage 40. .A valve seat disk 52'isscrewedintocagalt: below partition 45, and

has a central aperture 53 and a'seat54 for valve ball 55, av spring 56 for ball 55 preferably bein positioned between said ball and partition, as illustrated.

Tubular .-valve cage 40 is provided, between partition 45 and disk 50, with cleaning out ports 60, and between partition 45 and disk 52, with cleaning out ports 8|. These are used simply in cleaning the mud out of the valve cage after disassemb1y of the device following use .under water. The engaging shoulders 43 and 44 are located b'etween'the sets of. ports and GI, and a gasket 82 clamped between said shouldersprevents water escaping through upper ports 60 for reentering via lower ports "and so rendering ineffective the upper valve.

a centrally apertured adapter plug a is screwed into the upper end of head ll, above valve cage 40. This plug is provided with 'a tubular extension 85, having external screwthreads 68 and internal screwthreads O'l, adapt-.

ed for connection with the lower-end ofa pipe string. This pipestring, here indicated at it.

.may be adapted for connection with either the external or the internal threads of extension t5, thought have here typically indicated a' pipe string I! connected by meansof a coupling t! screwed ontoexternal screwthreads t6.

The operation of taking a sample core with a the device as deseribed is as follows: A suitable bore having been made in the earth, the sampler Ii is lowered therein by means'of pipe string a ti, and is driven or forced downwardlyihto the o lloil at the bottom of the bore through the medium of the pipe string. The bit II cuts a cylindric corewhich is forced upwardly through bore l4, ring 2| and into the sample retainer rings 23. Preferably, before lowering the sampler in the bore hole. and at the time the sample catcher ring ngently elevated, this ring 2| is assembled within the sampler, a split expansive retainer ring 10 is ,placed inside the I 2|, in a position to holdqzhe valve plates 30 in their upper positions-as illustrated in Figs. 1

and 1a. This ringflll is carried upwardly by the upper end of the-core, freeing the valve plates 30 for inward movement. However, the plates 30 remain in the positions illustrated in Fig. 1 during the cutting of the core, and do not project into the path of the core so as to deface or disturb the'core while it is being forced upwardly past them.,- a

If the core is being taken under water, any water which has entered the bore .ahead of the core rises past valve balls 55 and 48 into pipe string 68, and when the device is subsewater is thus prevented from washing the'core back out of the sampler. The water thus entering pipe string 58 may -be discharged through apertures-pr i the 20 s derstood, however, that .various changes in dearrangement may be made without departing ,from the spirit and scope of string, forinstance, the drill holes H in coupling 69. r

The core having been cut and forced upwardly into the rings 23, the sampler is then elevated by means of pipe string 68. Any tendency of the core to slide downwardly out of the sampler now results in soil working in 'back of valve Plates a sing the sharp upper edges 31 of said plates to move radially inwardly and to penetrate the core. Once s'aid edges have pene-' trated substantially into the core, further downward pressure of the core may cause them to swing downwardly to a substantially horizontal position, as to the position indicated in Fig. 2.

This depends largely upon thenature of the? soil, its water content, etc. In any event, the valve plates somove outwardly and penetrate the core to a sufficient extent escaping from the sampler; and depending upon soil and water conditions, this outward movement of the plates 30 may amount to only a" few degrees of angular swing, or may amount plete avoidance 'ance in the bore, at the location of the sample v the lower to a swing of approximately 90 such as indicated in Fig. 2. V l

The provision of the uniform and continuous bore from the mouth of the bit upwardly through the sample catcher ring 2| and into the retainer rings 23 enables the cutting and preservation of a substantially undisturbed core. The valve plates 30 being positioned in closely fitting re-. cesses during the up travel of the core, the core is uninterfered with by said plates. The comof any discontinuity \or clear catcher elements orelsewhere, prevents the core from spreading out or losing its initial cylin-- dric form. The sampler having been hauledto the ground surface and disassembled, the' undisturbed corecontained within the retainer ring 23 may be subjected. to various tests, such as shear tests, friction tests, etc., while still retained within or'supported by the rings 23.

Figs. 5 to 7- show a modified form of-sample,

catcher ring. Inthis instance, the ring, here h designated by numeral Zia, has a plurality of 65 relatively shallow arch shaped recesses 16 sunk in its inner surface, the recesses extending from end of the ring to a point just short of its upper end, as illustrated-in Fig. 5. 'Valve plates 18, complementary in shape to recesses were adapted to be received in said recesses, with-their outer concave surfaces 160 flush with the infiersurfaces of ring 2m, and with the surfaces of recesses 15 serving as the abutment .means holding the plates 18 up to such position. 75

to prevent it from of water outside the The lower ends of these valve plates 16' are iur nished with trunnions ll adapted to be received in notches 18 formed in the lower'edge-of ring 7 a sharp edge at 19, both at the top and along the longitudinal edges, so as to permit the soil to readily work in back of said plates as the sample tends to slide out of the bore, thus ca'usingthe plates 16 to swing outwardly on their trunnions 'to penetrate and support the sample. The operation of the sampler when equipped with the sample catcher device as shown in Figs. 5 to 7 will of course be understood to be the same'as previously described," the only diilerence beingthat the two forms of sample catcher elements permit selection to suit soils of different natures.

I have now illustrated and described the invention by reference to certain present preferred illustrative embodiments thereof: it will be unsign, structure and the invention or of the appended claims. W I-claim:

lar body having a bit on its lower end, a re extending upwardly into saidbody through said bit, and core retainer'meansninside said body projectible into said bore; the combination of a valve cage in said tubular body above'said core retainer means, upper and lower downwardly seating ball valves arranged in series in said valve cage, upper andv lower cleaning ports in the side of said cage opposite said ball valves; and packing means between said cage and tubular head at a point between the upper and lower cleaning ports, said packing means preventing circulation per and lower cleaning ports. I I 2.- A tubular driv'ensoil sampler, embodying'a head, a longitudinally split barrel detachablycoupled at its upper end to said head, a tubular bit detachably coupled to the lowerend of said longitudinally split barrel, said bit tapering to an annular cutting edge at its lower end, a plurality of removable core retainer rings positioned end to end within saidlongitudinally split barrel, said sampler including walls defining a continuous'uninterrupted core receiving boreof substan- 1 tially uniform diameter throughout extending-upwardly from said annular cutting edge of said bit to said plurality of removable core retainer rings,

and said rings having bores of the same 111- ameter as and forming-an uninterrupted continuation of said soilsample cut by said annular cutting edgewof said bit may be orced upwardly with close slidcorereceiving bore and in said bores in said rings, recesses sunk in said walls from said bore,

said. recesses and freely pivoted at their lower end portions on said walls, said elements having concave cylindric faces of the same radius or curvature as said bore adapted .to be positioned .flush with said bore when said elements are receivedin said recesses, saidelements being pivotally movable from said flush positionsinto po'-'- sitions of 'projection'inside said bore, and said 1. In a soil sampler comprising a hollow tubuvalve cage between the 'upcore receiving bore, whereby a and sample catcher elements re-. ceivable with relatively close marginal fit within said elements-afford lateral.

support for the sides or the core at the cylindric.

suriacedeflned by said bore during passage of p the coresr elatively upwardly in said bore.

3. In a device of the character described, in-

v eluding a tubular wall defining a core receivin bore, a recess sunkin saidwall from said bore, and a sample catcher element receivable with relatively close mar alfit within said recess and pivotally mounted .at its lower portion on said wall, said recess and sample catcher element be- 1 in: arch-shaped in general outlinep and the arched upper end of said element being beveled to a relatively thin-edge, said element having aconcave cylindric face of the same radius of curvature'as said bore adapted to be positioned flush with said bore whensaid element is received in said recess, said element being pivotally -movab1e-"trom'said'flush position into a position of projection inside said bore.

'mENTnDAMEs. 

